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Traditionally, desk mats or desk blotters were mainly used by calligraphers. Writing directly on the surface of a hand-crafted desk could have damaged the quality of your beautiful furniture. Without a pad, your quill and your pen were unable to dance fluidly on the paper. Back then, desk pads were only designed to provide some sort of shock absorbency and prevent your ink from damaging the surface of your furniture.
Today, desk mats have a whole different purpose. Yes, they still protect your furniture and provide a pleasant writing surface. But they do way more than that! A desk mat can completely transform your workspace! It can add a bit of style and a personal touch to your office desk. It can also substitute a boring mouse pad. And most importantly, it has the ability to protect your desk from any coffee or tea stains.
Whether you are looking to protect your desk, be more organized or just add a bit of zing to your office space, this article is for you! To help you find the best desk mat for your workspace, we have created a list of our favorite choices. Here’s our top five best desk mats.
EMINTA Dual Sided Desk Pad
The EMINTA Dual Sided desk pad offers the protection your desk deserves! The large leather mat can prevent any unwanted scratches, stains or spills. With its beautiful and modern design, this pad makes a great addition to your office or home.
This product is also water and heat resistant. This means that it is extremely durable and has an impressive lifespan. You won’t be needing a new one any time soon. Unless you get tired of the color and wish to make a change.
Additionally, this desk mat is extremely soft. This can make writing and typing on your computer a total pleasure
What we love about this product is that it is double-sided. This is like getting two desk mats for the same price! Who would say no?If you are an organized person and love keeping things tidy, you will love the EMINTA pad. This desk mat is easy to clean and carry around. And compared to other normal desk protectors, this is big enough to accommodate your other devices such as phone, laptop, headphones or keyboard. Even if all of these are scattered around, your desk will still look very clean. And if you have any type of celebration or birthday coming up, this is also an ideal gift choice!
Specifications
- Size: 31.5”x 15.7″
- Material Type: PU leather
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Two-in-one
- Waterproof and heat resistant
Pros
- Easy to clean and carry around
- Budget-friendly option
- Lightweight
- Two sides
Cons
- A bit slippery
Gallaway Leather Desk Pad
Are you looking for a modern and sleek desk mat to complement the design of your surroundings and your other pieces of furniture? Look no more! The Gallaway leather desk pad is an ideal option for your workspace. This is certainly one of the fanciest mats we’ve come across.
With its smooth surface and elegant brown color, this blotter can add glamour to any workspace. Made using only high-quality premium leather, the pad can prevent your desk from any damage caused by everyday office wear. We think that this pad offers a great blend of functional glamour and aesthetic bliss.
What we love about this product is also its extremely velvety texture. With its soft cushioning, this mat provides that comfort you need. Your hands and elbows will surely thank you for purchasing this! With a suede bottom, this product is not slippery at all. You will not have to worry a second about trying to constantly readjust the mat.
And here’s a secret! The packaging is perhaps as beautiful as the product itself. The engraved black box makes this desk mat an ideal gift for any occasion.
Specifications
- Size: 36”x 17″
- Material Type: PU leather
- Weight: 1.12 pounds
- Anti-slip base
- Water repellent surface
Pros
- Elegant design that can add a bit of glamour to your workspace
- Very large so you can fit all the accessories you need
- Very durable due to the high-quality materials
- Two sides
Cons
- Relatively pricey
BUBM Desk Pad Protector
For a great desk pad with a matte finish, BUBM is the answer! With its anti-skid and smooth texture, the BUBM desk pad protector gives you a pleasant writing surface.
This mat is big enough, so you have enough freedom to place your other accessories wherever you want.
And here’s a deal! In case you get tired of its color, you can use the other side of the mat. And don’t worry! Just because you can use both sides doesn’t mean that the mat will slide around.
Moreover, this desk pad has a water repellent surface. If you have a clumsy day and spill something on it, you can easily wipe it. Nobody will notice!
Due to its high-quality material, this pad is also extremely durable to any type of damages. With the unparalleled quality of its leather, this desk mat will probably last through an entire career.
Specifications
- Size: 31.5”x 15.7″
- Material Type: PU leather
- Weight: 0.9 pounds
- Water repellent surface
- Non-glare surface
- Double-sided
Pros
- Very durable due to the high-quality materials
- Two sides in case you get tired of the color
- Pleasant smell
Cons
- The company’s name and website are embossed on one of the corners which may not be liked by some
BigHala Dual-Sided Desk Mat
If you are looking for a multi-purpose desk mat with lovely colors, BigHala’s dual-sided desk mat is the answer!
This desk pad provides a flat and soft area to work on and can be a great substitute for your current mouse pad. It can also add a bit of color to your office space even on the gloomiest days.
With such a lovely mat, it’s hard not to be organized! You will notice that the desk pad is big enough for you to place your phone, keyboard, keys, notepad, laptop and any other objects on it. Even a hot cup of coffee, as the surface is heat resistant and waterproof. And in case you accidentally spill your cup of tea, you will be surprised by the easily wipeable design of this mat.
Specifications
- Size: 32”x 16″
- Material Type: PVC leather
- Weight: 1 pound
- Water repellent surface
- Non-glare surface
- Double-sided
Pros
- Great range of colors
- Two sides in case you get tired of one color
- Eco-friendly
- Reasonable price
Cons
- A bit smelly
Aothia Eco-Friendly Natural Cork & Leather Desk Mat
Made from a unique blend of cork and vegan leather, this fine piece from Aothia is great for you and the environment. The company cares intensely about our planet and you can tell! This desk mat only contains non-toxic and organic materials. The cork is also biodegradable.
With its earthy aspect, this desk mat brings a bit of nature straight to your office. Its thoughtful design makes it ideal for any type of workspace. And, as the other desk mats in our list, this one is also big enough to accommodate your mouse, laptop, keyboard and notepad.
In comparison to other desk mats that can sometimes be smelly, this has a lovely scent of wood. In fact, the cork is sustainably produced using raw bark from the trees on the Iberian Peninsula of Portugal.
The eco-cork also makes this mat moisture resistant giving you a soft feeling whilst you’re typing, browsing or writing.
From the mat to the packaging that comes with it, everything is made using organic materials. This is an excellent gift for any of your environmentally conscious friends. Or for anyone who appreciates a nice design.
Specifications
- Size: 31.5”x 15.7″
- Material Type: Cork and Vegan PU leather
- Weight: 0.95 pounds
- Water repellent surface
- Soft cushioning
- Double-sided
Pros
- Two sides in case you get tired of one color
- Extra grip due to the cork base
Cons
- Tends to curl up
And here’s our verdict!
Best Value for Money:
EMINTA Dual Sided Desk Pad – This desk mat is extremely affordable and offers all the benefits you need. You can now protect your surface from any scratches, damage, stains or heat. With this budget-friendly option, you can bring a professional look to your office and keep things organized.
Most Elegant:
Gallaway Leather Desk Pad – The ultimate desk mat. Everything about this one screams elegance. Its round edges, brown color, leather design, and of course, the embossed logo of the company which gives it a chic look.
Best Aesthetics:
BigHala Dual-Sided Desk Mat – The pastel colors of this dual-sided desk mat make it very nice-looking. This blotter is perfect for keeping you organized and tidy.
Best Durability:
BUBM Desk Pad Protector – BUBM is a company with extensive experience producing all kinds of items from travel bags to hairdryer cases. They know how to make the most durable products. Their blotters are also extremely durable and can last your entire career.
Best for the Environment:
Aothia Eco-Friendly Natural Cork & Leather Desk Mat – This is a great choice if you care about the environment and want a desk mat that is made using only non-toxic materials. This one also brings a bit of nature to your office.
Now that you’ve seen our favorite desk mats, we hope to have made your decision much easier. In case you are still not sure what the best desk mat for your workspace is, here are a couple of more things to consider.
What size should I pick?
It’s true – Not all desk mats are created equal. They all have different shapes, sizes and colors to suit different needs. You may be wondering what the best size is. This totally depends on what you are looking for. Usually, desk mats sizes can vary between 12’’ x 17’’ and 35’’ x 71’’. But before purchasing one, make sure to check the actual dimensions of your space. Keep in mind that you also want some free space to remain uncovered.
Leather or vinyl? This is the question.
Again, it depends. A leather desk mat can sometimes be slightly more durable than pads made using other materials. Moreover, the appearance of a leather desk mat will also get better with age.
If you want to add a bit of glamour to your office and give it a distinguished look, we recommend you go for leather. This is an extremely versatile material that can offer unmatched comfort for your hands and elbows. Although it may be a bit more expensive, it is worth the price for those of you who love a soft and velvety feel.
For a nature-friendly alternative, there are also plenty of faux leather desk mats available. These are budget-friendly options that can provide the same value as a real leather desk pad can bring. They are also resistant to wear and tear and water-repellant.
Finally, if you are looking for more affordable alternatives, vinyl desk pads are the way to go. Vinyl is significantly cheaper than leather but can provide the same durability and elegance. This is also a very flexible option and can complement any type of room design. Vinyl desk pads are also extremely easy to maintain and clean.
Wrap-up
We hope this product review made it a little bit easier for you to select the best desk mat for your workspace. Choosing one will totally depend on your needs. If you love gaming, you may prefer a pad that is not slippery and very mouse-friendly. At the same time, if you are looking to add a bit of elegance to your office, you might go for a classic leather look.
If you consider all the things we’ve outlined in this article, we’re sure that you’ll make a brilliant choice!
Happy typing, writing, and browsing!
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